ASHLAND – The Ashland Public Library will have more weekend hours and fewer evening hours starting this summer.
Beginning June 4, at the start of the summer reading season, the library will be open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, rather than the current 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The library will also add Sunday hours, opening from noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.
The five members of library’s board of trustees unanimously approved the new hours this month at the recommendation of director Heather Jensen. The seven-member board currently has two vacancies.
Jensen said the change comes in response to patron demand, as the library seems to be busier in the hours just before closing time on Fridays and Saturdays than it is after 7 p.m. on weeknights.
“You kind of know when you’re busy and when you’re not,” Jensen said.
Jensen also had staff use a door tracker to count the number of patrons using the library at different times of day throughout December and January. She noted the library is busiest between 2 and 5 p.m., even on Fridays and Saturdays, and is generally least busy after 7 p.m. weeknights.
The board also considered the purchase of two radio-frequency identification (RFID) scanners and equipment to tag and scan materials. The system would cost about $49,714 and would allow patrons and staff to check materials in and out quicker. Jensen said she hopes to have the system up and running by Christmas.
Board members also gave Jensen the go ahead to change the color of the library’s logo from blue to green to match the colors used in the library’s recent remodel. The library is also considering redoing its website to make it more mobile-friendly.
Anyone interested in filling one of the vacant seats on the library board can submit a letter of interest to board president Sandra Tunnell at alphagreek@zoominternet.net.
The board’s next meeting has been moved to 5 p.m. March 15 in the library conference room.
